2013: The (Half) Year in Review

James Blake perfoms on stage on Day 1 of Primavera Sound Porto Festival on May 30, 2013, in Porto, Portugal.

While 2013 is only half over, we can’t help but stop to consider the best tracks of the year thus far.

Our list includes everything from hip-hop anthems to tear-jerking ballads and synth-pop sing-alongs perfect for driving around with the windows down. There are contributions from seasoned veterans as well as brand-new talent — all stepping up, with toe-tapping, head bobbing results.

From post-punk to poppy hip-hop to indie dance to whatever you want to call the dub-step hip-hop mash-up that is the Skrillex/A$AP Rocky song “Wild for the Night,” 2013 appears to be the year of genre-bending. And, for the most part, the songs are incredible. If the rest of 2013 proves as fruitful, the end-of-the-year list is going to be just as hard to put together.

"Blurred
Lines" has one of the most unoriginal, generic beats of any hit song in
recent history (exactly the same as Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give It Up"
from the '70s, for example) and is sung by a guy who is void of
personality and the ability to sing well. I don't know how it could make
anyone's top songs list--for ANY year; it's one huge bore of a tune.

11-Do What You Want. The B sides are Suit & Tie, Treasure, Summertime Sadness, Can't Hold Us, Blurred Lines (I just hate that they admitted to 'robbing' MG). This IS the list. Professionals tend to jump on bandwagons and shouldn't always be taken serious.

"Blurred Lines" has one of the most unoriginal, generic beats of any hit song in recent history (exactly the same as Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give It Up" from the '70s, for example) and is sung by a guy who is void of personality and the ability to sing well. I don't know how it could make anyone's top songs list--for ANY year; it's one huge bore of a tune.

Hm. Interesting list to someone, I suppose. I've heard of maybe 2 of these artists.. but then it's not a big surprise since I don't listen to this genre of music. Beauty is in the ear of the beholder, but anything with Kanye West's name on it is just a bunch of noise.

Nonsense that "Sunlight" by the Brand New Heavies isn't on this list! N'Dea Davenport is back with the guys and resurrects greatness. With a retro funk vibe, it rivals their 20+ year old "Never Stop" as their best track. Fools compiled this list!

Inspired by the TV documentary ;Voices From The Towers, I composed the following remembrance track.The song tells the story of one such victim trapped within the burning towers and his final farewell telephone call, left upon his lovers message machine and to those he loved left behind. I'd very much like to share it with you, your readers / viewers, indeed to offer it as a free download from the Time News website this year, it is not for me to make profit from this song but I feel it is appropriate or others to listen to it.

ONE MORE THING: that Nickelodeon Ariana Grando girl ROBBED Mariah Carey's voice and that is NOT acceptable. No one can say, "well, I didn't much about her" or "Mariah is my inspiration." Mariah's voice IS THE most unique voice in pop music since she came out in the early 1990's. THE most unique. It should not be duplicated. If that Ariano girl is so good, then surely she can create HER OWN voice. Bye.

A WHOLE bunch of indie-like songs, and they MUST throw in Blurred Lines and Get Lucky?! And that Pink Bull zh at?!!! HOWEVER, this is the POP/Hit Top 40 Best Songs so far (in no bias or specific order): 1-Ho Hey 2-Get Lucky 3-Come & Get It 4-My Songs Know... 5-Feel This Moment 6-I Knew You Were... 7-It's Time 8-Blurred Lines 9-Clarity 10-Home.

@EvaAmore That comment is ridiculous. Take your ignorance elsewhere. I love Daft Punk and think that "One More Time" is one of the best songs of the 2000s, but Kanye is one of the most critically acclaimed artists and producers ever. He has 4-5 albums that got average ratings of over a 9, and all of his solo albums have had an average rating of over an 8. He also produced Jay Z's best album, the Blueprint. I really like Daft Punk, but to say something like that is ridiculous.